Press Release: 'I’m ticking off Teesside landmarks': Abby's quirky vintage style is self-employment hit at 26
Photo by Journalist Anna Twizell taken when we met up for the interview
“Abby, 26, always loved art and creative subjects during school but wasn't sure where this would lead her.
“I always knew I wanted to do something creative but wasn't sure what. I didn’t decide what I wanted to do until near the end of school,” she said.
She went on to study Graphic Design at the Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD), now The Northern School of Art.
After leaving CCAD, Abby, from Stockton, worked as a graphic designer but in a corporate industry.
Along with partner Owen Smith, she entered a competition run by Hartlepool Council to design six posters based on local locations.
The winning entries were to be displayed inside the railway station.
They won the competition and the council were so impressed with their work that they commissioned them to create a further six pieces.
Their designs included Church Street, Hartlepool Marina and The Headland, to name a few.
The artwork was released in August 2017, following this Abby knew this would be a good opportunity to go self-employed.
“I wanted to challenge myself more.”
Six weeks later, she had her website up and running and had started her self-employment journey.
“I was especially useless with the maths side”, Abby joked, but her determination and a little help from the Stockton Start-Up Programme, she was on her way.
Abby doesn't want anyone, especially young people, to be put off by the prospect of going self-employed as it is do-able and there is help available.
"As long as you learn to do the tax returns, you're fine."
The Foundation for Women in Enterprise provided Abby with a grant, which she used to buy the printer in her home studio.
"It's really important to look after your mental health if you're self-employed. You need to be able to switch off".
Taking her own advice, Abby keeps her work and personal life separate and sets specific days aside for administration and creative work.
Abby’s style has been influenced by vintage travel posters but it's evolved over time and she's begun to experiment further with use of colour as part of her digital illustration.
When it comes to the creative process, Abby works a lot from photos and uses Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and a drawing tablet to perfect her work.
Her style is instantly recognisable and memorable, with pleasing colours and precise lines.
As Abby has grown in confidence and clients, she has received several commissions for both business and personal use.
“It’s gone crazy, but in a good way.”
She has used several local locations as inspiration for her work such as:
Grade 2 listed buildings The Georgian Theatre and Globe Theatre (how it looked originally in the 1930s).
“I’m ticking off landmarks in Teesside.”
Her work on the bandstand in Ropner Park was a personal commission.
A client bought it for his brother who no longer lives in the Teesside area, and Abby felt "it was heartwarming to work on such a personal piece".
Jason Maxwell, manager of Stockton BID, commissioned Abby to work on the restoration of Zak Newton's mural of Saint George the Dragon Slayer, which hangs in The Green Dragon Yard, Stockton.
"Can you draw a man on a horse?" he'd asked.
‘Abby Taylor's The Green Dragon Yard restoration mural challenge’
‘The finished article’
Abby admits she'd never even thought of doing a restoration piece before, but it is a project she thoroughly enjoyed.
In terms of a favourite piece of work, Abby couldn't single one out.
"I'm a bit of a sucker for decorative buildings", she confessed.
This view has made her appreciate the architecture more and her need for accuracy, especially with lines that need to be precise.
One piece could take between eight to 16 hours depending on the size.
BBC Bitesize recently contacted Abby, and through them she has been able to offer advice to some children and teens.
"When you’re in school you think this is how you’re always going to be”.
Abby admits she was very shy and introverted during her school years, but she has grown in confidence so much since leaving and she hopes she can inspire young people to follow their passions.
Abby's work is currently being sold at Drake The Bookshop, Stockton and For the Love of the North, Whitley Bay, but her goal for the future is for more local places to stock her work.
She is currently working on a few projects that are yet to be revealed and is hoping to have a launch of her work in the spring.
"I'm excited to see what other enquiries come through".
Abby enjoyed working on the ale map of Stockton pubs so would love to do some more map work in future.
- Article was written by Anna Twizell for Teesside Live
If you have a project in mind, just get in touch!